Judge Toshiaki Iimura of the was quoted in newspaper reports in Japan as saying that the machines are not only similar in style, but also detail.

"In addition to a worry that consumers might confuse the two products, there exists a fear that customers could misconstrue the relationship between Sotec and Apple," Iimura was quoted as saying in Nihon Keizai Shimbun.

Sotec began selling its cut-price Windows 98-equipped machine in Japan in July. The e-one retails in Japan for around 130,000 yen (£750), about 30,000 yen less than Apple's iMac.

A Sotec spokesman acknowledged that the company was aware of the ruling.

Apple also sued eMachines last month, alleging that company's bargain-basement eOne machine was an iMac knock-off.

And on July 1, Apple filed a similar suit against Korea's Daewoo Telecom and its joint venture, Future Power.